lU'J UKl'oK'l' OK OKKICK i)K KX I'KKI.MKNT STATIONS. 



'I'hc (l('[)!ir(iiuMits <»r clu'iuistrv ;iiul liorticulturc, of the statiun arc 

 (.'ooiMTiitiii}^" in this woik jiiid \\n\v coiisicU'ral)!*' material I'cady for 

 jiiil)rk'atioM. 'riicro has also boon hoiuo oxpcriuieiital work in caiiMiiij^ 

 fruits and V('gotal)los and on tho-chcuiical (•(>in})osition of fruits. The 

 cider investi«,rations are in cooperation witii the Bureau of Chemistry 

 of this Department, with which the station is also coopei"atin«^ in suj^ar- 

 heet investigations and studies on the available plant food in soils. 

 The entomoloi>;ist is coopcnitinjr with the Division of Entomolog}' of this 

 I )epartnn'nt in studies on the San Jos6 scale and Asiatic ladybird. The 

 San Jose scale investi«(ations are also aided by State funds. Diseases 

 of orchard trees luuc l)een studied, and a bulhitin dealinj^- with ])ear 

 blii^ht has been publislu^d. The application of j)otash and phosphates 

 to stimidate the trees is recounnended. A i)reliminary study of the 

 crown oall on apple trees has also been completed and published, and 

 one of the conclusions reached is that the disease most likely reaches 

 the nursery through the use of diseased apple seedlings. 



The agriculturist has been investigating a number of farm products 

 used as hay sul)stitutes and has found corn stover especially valuable. 

 He has recently started a series of 80 plats for rotation work to study 

 rotations with and without leguminous plants grown with and without 

 f(U"tilizers. He is also continuing f,ome work on the bacteriology of 

 soils. The work of the biologist is largely consulting, but he has 

 made some breeding experiments with Lepidoptera and is preparing 

 a bulletin on the birds of the State, which is to supplement a book 

 pul)lished several years ago by another author. A little veterinary 

 work is being done, especially with ticks and other parasites. 



Several members of the station staff have attended meetings of 

 farmers during the 3'ear and have succeeded in arousing considerable 

 interest in the work of the college and station. Three large lal)ora- 

 tories for the chemical department of the station have been fitted up 

 b}' the college in the new science building. Assistants to tlie station 

 staff have been added in chemistry, horticulture, mycology, and api- 

 culture. The facilities for work at the Virginia Station have been 

 improved, but there is still need of a more efi'ective organization and 

 additional funds in order that investigations commensurate with the 

 importance of the agricultural interests of the State ma}^ be carried on. 

 With the growth of the college the administrative duties of the pres- 

 ident have of necessity been greatl}^ increased and it is impractica))le 

 for that officer to give such attention to the management of the station 

 as is re(juired to secure its greatest efficienc}'. A separate director 

 should therefore be secured and given authority to enforce the prompt 

 and regular execution of definite plans of investigation. This officer 

 should also have opportunity to study and promote the agricultural 

 interests of different regions of the State. The inspection work of the 

 station should be clearly differentiated from its investigations and fully 

 supported by State funds. 



